Player in ‘terrific’ form since Everton sold him with 8 goals and 5 assists

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Given Manchester City’s tendency to go on this kind of rampaging Spring-time run, Arsenal perhaps should have seen this coming; Pep Guardiola’s side taking full advantage of the stumbling Gunners while moving top of the Premier League table for the first time since February. 

But even Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and co would struggle to match the remarkable standards set by Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town over the last two-and-a-half months. 

A run of one win in eight League One games after Christmas threatened to put pay to their automatic promotion prospects. But, following the 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers on February 14^th, Ipswich slammed their foot down onto the accelerator, turned on the nitrous, and breezed past almost everyone; a Formula 1 car motoring beyond a fleet of hatchbacks. 

Ipswich sealed promotion back to the Championship on Saturday in rather fitting style. A 6-0 obliteration of Exeter City at Portman Road was their 13^th win in 14 games. And heir aggregate score over that glorious 10-week period? 42-2, believe it or not. 

Former Everton striker Nathan Broadhead shining at Ipswich Town

Much of the credit will go to McKenna; their Sam Fender-lookalike head coach showing exactly why he was so highly regarded behind the scenes at Manchester United. But, with Ipswich website TWTD labelling the 2023 January transfer window perhaps ‘the club’s best ever’, special praise must go to the recruitment department with George Hirst, Harry Clarke, Massimo Luongo and – in particular – Nathan Broadhead helping turn a team that was struggling to keep the pace into genuine pace setters. 

“I think the boys who came in in January have done terrific,” McKenna explains. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Ipswich paid a rumoured £1.5 million to sign Broadhead from Everton in January following a difficult loan spell a division above at Sunderland. Like fellow Goodison Park graduates Ellis Simms and Preston’s Tom Cannon, Broadhead has taken on a talismanic role in new surroundings. A tally of eight goals and five assists in just 16 League One starts re-paying that hefty transfer fee with considerable interest. 

Eight goals and five assists

Since arriving from Everton, Broadhead has been a major player in that remarkable winning run. It was his role in Ipswich’s only draw since mid-February, however, that will stick in the mind for some; Broadhead sparking a fightback from 2-0 down against promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday with a sumptuous free-kick.

“I’d never seen him take a free-kick in training. But he just said he was going to take it,” admits Ipswich team-mate Leif Davis; the former Leeds left-back as surprised as anyone to see Broadhead channel his inner-David Beckham and showcase another string to his bow (EADT).  

“I let him have it and he did that. It was an unbelievable strike, and I think he’s claiming them from that side now. Hopefully he does that every week.

“I thought ‘Chappers’ (Conor Chaplin) might take it, because he’s unbelievable at them too. But Broady said ‘I’m having this’ and sticks it in the top corner off the crossbar.”